As a young cowherd, Lord Krishna once wandered the beautiful Vrindavan forest. Every living thing offered the Lord of the Universe their respectful reverence. Trees provided shade, plants offered fruits and flowers, birds sang love songs, and cows gave pure milk to Him.
Amidst the offerings to Krishna, a sorrowful bamboo reed felt worthless, believing it had nothing to offer. Hence, it surrendered itself, asking Krishna to do as He pleased.
Touched by its sincere gesture, Krishna blessed the reed. He sliced it, pierced seven holes, and filled it with His prana shakti (life force). Through its openings, Lord Krishna created an enchanting melody. With His divine grace, the humble bamboo became His flute!
Krishna always had this flute with Him. Carrying the flute, Krishna captivated the hearts of the Gopis (cowherd girls in Vrindavan). Its melodies evoked deep emotions, drawing them closer to Him in divine love and joy.
Often, the curious Gopis asked why Krishna held the flute dear. Krishna revealed that the seven notes in the flute represented the seven aspects of our being. To become His flute, one must be empty and surrender everything, enduring life’s sorrows as holes in the reed.
Krishna explained that only those who served Him and performed good deeds could become His flute, receiving His life force in the emptiness of their hearts.
Understanding the profound truth, the Gopis surrendered to Lord Krishna, renouncing their false identities. They embraced their role as His instruments, serving Him and embarking on an inward spiritual journey. Each Gopi evolved into the Lord’s flute esoterically, experiencing a profound connection with Him.
Therein lies the story of how Lord Krishna’s beautiful flute came to exist.
Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is deeply revered in Sanatana Dharma. His flute holds profound symbolism and interpretations. Made from bamboo, the flute represents the emptiness from which music emerges, embodying simplicity and purity.
It signifies Krishna’s blessings for unadulterated and pure love. Krishna, the beloved Lord, embraces the role of a humble flute player, captivating hearts with His divine melody.
One of the most renowned stories associated with Krishna’s flute recounts the mesmerizing incident where He employed its enchanting melodies to conquer the perilous serpent, Kaliya. The resounding notes from the flute were so overwhelming that they compelled the venomous Kaliya to retreat from the Yamuna River.
This tale vividly illustrates the extraordinary ability of divinity and music to triumph over even the most formidable and terrifying forces.
Let us unravel the secrets held within the mellifluous call of Krishna’s flute and listen to the sacred melodies that stir the soul and ignite a deep connection with the divine.
🌸The Flute and Kundalini Energy: Krishna’s Bansuri, the sacred flute, carries profound symbolism. Its hollow form represents the emptiness within us without the Divine. The seven holes symbolize the seven chakras, our energy centres. Just as the sound from Krishna’s flute resonates, Divine energy rises from the base of the spine to the crown chakra, filling the emptiness with love, and awakening the Kundalini energy within us.
🌸Humility and Simplicity: Lord Krishna, a mighty and revered deity, often depicted as a humble cowherd, captivatingly plays His enchanting flute. This imagery holds a symbolic message: true spirituality resides in simplicity and humility. It gently nudges us to recognize that divinity can be unearthed within life’s ordinary, unassuming facets.
🌸The Call of Divine Love: Emptying ourselves of ego and desires, we become instruments of the divine, allowing His will to flow through us, following the path of Bhakti yoga (path of devotion). In addition, Krishna’s flute symbolizes His unwavering love for Radha (His eternal consort) and the Gopis (cowherd girls of Vrindavan), evoking a dance of devotion and an invitation for the entire creation to embrace Him in love.
🌸Yearning for Divine Union: The flute awakens a deep longing for spiritual oneness, symbolising the union of the individual soul (jivatma) and the Supreme Soul (Paramatma), guiding us towards divine connection.
In today’s world, Lord Krishna’s flute holds practical significance, embodying profound teachings that can be applied to our daily lives. Let’s explore how we can embrace and internalize these teachings in modern times:
🌸Harmony and Balance: Amidst the turmoil of today’s world, the pursuit of inner harmony and balance becomes paramount. Krishna’s flute gracefully beckons us to discover tranquility within, guiding us through the transformative journey of meditation, self-reflection, and embracing the present moment. As a melodic metaphor, the flute reminds us of the harmonious path that leads to inner peace, offering solace amidst life’s trials and tribulations.
🌸Detachment: Like the flute’s detachment from the music it creates, we too should perform our duties selflessly, without attachment to the outcomes. This spiritual practice is especially relevant in modern-day challenges, offering inner peace and freedom from external fluctuations.
🌸Celebrating Life and Joy: The music from the flute represents joy and celebration. By cultivating gratitude, finding joy in simple pleasures, and embracing life’s moments, we can enhance our overall well-being.
In essence, Lord Krishna’s flute embodies compassion, love, humility, healing, and beauty. It removes negativity and awakens our spiritual capacity. As we learn from the flute’s lessons, may we find inner harmony, and love, and make a positive impact on the world.
Glossary:
1. Lord Krishna is a prominent figure in Sanatana Dharma and is considered one of the avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu, who is the preserver and sustainer of the universe.
2. Vrindavan is a sacred town in the Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh, India. It holds immense significance in Hinduism, particularly with Lord Krishna. Vrindavan is where Lord Krishna spent His childhood and performed various divine pastimes and Leelas (playful acts).
3. Sanatana Dharma is an ancient and vast spiritual tradition rooted in eternal principles that encompass diverse beliefs, rituals, and philosophies, guiding individuals towards self-realization and harmony with the universe.
4. In the sacred Yamuna River, a venomous snake named Kaliya caused pollution and danger. When Lord Krishna learned of this, He fearlessly confronted Kaliya. With His divine presence, Krishna engaged in a fierce battle with the serpent. As Kaliya coiled around Him, Krishna danced on its hoods, playing His enchanting flute. Through His divine power, Krishna subdued Kaliya and commanded him to leave the river forever, ensuring its purity and restoring peace to the land.
5. Kundalini, a term from yoga and Tantra, refers to the dormant energy located at the base of the spine. When awakened, this energy ascends through the chakras, the body’s energy centres, leading to spiritual enlightenment. The chakras, depicted as spinning wheels of energy, are associated with specific qualities and functions. The Kundalini energy starts at the base, the Muladhara (Root Chakra), and rises through the Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra), Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra), Anahata (Heart Chakra), Vishuddha (Throat Chakra), Ajna (Third Eye Chakra), and Sahasrara (Crown Chakra) located at the crown of the head. For a deeper understanding of Kundalini Energy and its significance, read “Kundalini: An Untold Story” by Om Swami.
6. Atman (Soul), Karma (Action), Dharma (Duty), Moksha (Liberation), Yoga (Union), Ahimsa (Non-violence), and Seva (Selfless Service) encompass the seven aspects of our being.
